Is Bill Condon About To Sink Fangs Into 'Twilight' Saga's Two Final Segments?

EXCLUSIVE: Bill Condon has emerged as the number one choice to direct the final two installments of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, I’m told. Summit Entertainment hasn’t signed him, but I’m told that after several strong meetings, they are negotiating. Condon was among a list of A-list directors approved by Summit and Twilight author Stephenie Meyer. That list included Gus Van Sant, Sofia Coppola and Fernando Meirelles. Shooting will begin in the fall, and I heard the plan is to shoot two films back to back. That was just what my colleague Nikki Finke reported. She also wrote that Summit was looking for a big director and Dreamgirls and Gods and Monsters director Condon certainly fits that bill. Presumably, Condon would do this as his next project, and push back the picture he had planned to direct. That’s an adaptation of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, which he was putting together to be distributed by Fox Searchlight. Casting had been difficult on that one, as Colin Firth was in and out, along with Rachel Weisz and Kristin Scott Thomas. The Twilight job came open when The Twilight Saga: New Moon director Chris Weitz decided not to reprise, despite directing a film that grossed $707 million worldwide., almost doubling the Catherine Hardwicke-directed original’s $385 million worldwide gross. New Moon also broke Twilight’s opening weekend DVD sale record when it moved 4 million units to the 3.8 million of the original Twilight, which went on to become 2009’s top DVD title with 9.2 million sales. David Slade helmed the upcoming installment, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, which Summit releases June 30. Condon is also going to direct the Richard Pryor biopic that will star Marlon Wayans and will be made by Columbia Pictures through a put deal held by Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison, which is a producer on the project. Like Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, that is going to have to wait for Condon to finish the double feature. Hollywood hasn’t given Summit its due on the Twilight pictures. Like them or not, these pictures have been better than they had to be, given the ferocious fan base. They are exciting movies with a fresh contemporary feel. That Summit keeps pushing the envelope, where director quality is concerned, says a lot in how to keep franchises engaging for fans–something that studios now readying prequels, four-quels and reboots, would be smart to emulate.

I agree that “fresh and contemporary” is way off. I’ll give you the Hardwicke one, whatever. But Chris Weitz directed a terribly paced love saga with gender roles straight out of the ’50s.

nena • on May 19, 2010 8:46 pm

i was wondering if true that breaking dawn wont be in theaters till november 18th of 2011 which seems a little to long for the fanbase they might lose there enthusiasm since it has built over the three instalments

Bill M. • on Apr 7, 2010 10:11 am

You’re overstating a tad, aren’t you? “Exciting movies” sure some people might think so but overtly they are trashed by critics, imdb voters, even fans of the books (outside of the 12-17 girl demographic). I’d call the first two Pirates films exciting movies, Twilight I’d dub as duds (and that’s being kind).

Jessica L. • on Apr 7, 2010 12:06 pm

I would have to disagree on your comment about only having a fan base with the ages of 12-17! I am a 33 year old woman and have many of friends my age that are ALL into the Twilight series as a matter of fact my 57 year old mother is also intob them….the reason? Because the books play into every womans fantasies! Not just young, but older as well! We all dream of having our first true love forever! Having a man who would do anything for you and cherish you unconditionally, but reality is…not every man in America today upheld those fantasies, so we live them out in the story of Bella and her vampire! That my friend is what makes the series so popular!

Belladonna • on Apr 7, 2010 12:56 pm

Hello Jessica: You are so right.. you hit the nail on the head.

Not for real women • on Apr 7, 2010 1:27 pm

Wow…did she really “hit the nail on the head” on that?

How sad.

These are terrible films made for teenage girls, but apparently also for women with no lives.

I’m sorry you’re so upset with American men who have disappointed and upset you. However, please speak for yourself and not the entire female population when you say it “plays into every woman’s fantasy”… You lost me somewhere between true love forever and vampires…

Boston • on Apr 8, 2010 9:35 am

I wouldn’t call the Twilight films the worst films I’ve ever seen. But in all seriousness, they aren’t exactly good either. For the most part they are poorly acted. The better, more proven actors are the ones with the smallest roles. Michael Sheen (small role), Anna Kendrick (small role). Taylor Lautner, regardless of how many abs the kid has, is not a good actor. Pattinson seems to have potential, and Stewart, who has been good in other films, I believe was the wrong choice for the role.

I’m glad they are trying to get a more accomplished director. But in all fairness, it would be tough for any director to turn these poorly written novels into a truly great film. Maybe David Fincher, or Chris Nolan could if they made the subject matter a bit darker. But I highly doubt Stephanie Meyer would allow that, nor would those directors be interested. Neverless, up until this point both films have been sub-par (Nothing above a C-) and I don’t have high expectations for “Eclipse”.

R U Kidding • on Apr 7, 2010 1:35 pm

Anyone over 15 that likes Twilight…I honestly question their IQ. The books are drivel and the films not much better.

Don • on Apr 8, 2010 9:21 am

Hum, male and IQ well over 132. I love the books. Good thing there’s room for everyone.

Pimpy • on Apr 7, 2010 2:53 pm

Hey Jessica –

How many cats do you own?

Spit Take • on Apr 8, 2010 9:43 am

Just blasted my keyboard with morning joe. Well done.

Old Moon • on Apr 7, 2010 5:13 pm

So teenage girls and lonely, ugly women love Twilight. No wonder why this series is so successful. That is a hell of a demographic.

Tim • on Apr 8, 2010 12:21 am

Why so angry, old man? Jessica L. just told you, why this movies are huge in revenue. They play the fiddle of female gender stereotypes. These stereotypes are not allowed to show up in real life anymore, talk like that and girls hate you, but make a movie, and the girls love it. :)

And I think the first one was ok. Watchable, but the second one was only waste of time.

rebecca • on Apr 8, 2010 5:26 am

We all dream of having our first love forever, do we? That’s news to me and millions of other women with brains.

Jane Austen • on Apr 8, 2010 10:23 am

No, you’re stIll twelve. Realize that and understand where your frustration with men is coming from.

Dirk Benedict • on Apr 7, 2010 12:17 pm

Agreed. I thought Twilight was faintly watchable even with a ludicrous vampire softball game element. New Moon was unwatchable and with some of the worst filmmaking, makeup, shooting I’ve ever seen. All hype, and not in any of the Harry Potter vein.

Summit is failing creatively on shepherding these; unfortunately the box office rewards them. Unlike Potter and LOTR, the Twilight Series will not be a collection of films that future consumers want to own as the quality is simply PISS-POOR.

Even the sorry books were (slightly) better.

Don • on Apr 8, 2010 9:22 am

I think a billion dollars says, wrong.

Anonymous • on May 31, 2010 10:29 am

I agree about New Moon. The camera angles were almost the same all through the film. Catherine was much better in creating real intimacy. I really like unsteady camera – just the thing to bring you there. Weitz distances himself with the dull camera work.

anhonestanswer.com • on Apr 7, 2010 7:39 pm

The first two Pirates movies exciting? Wow! I do not want to hear another comment out of your keypad. Those amusement park rides are unwatchable as “movies.”

indiemarketer • on Apr 7, 2010 10:18 am

KINSEY: The Real Story

brad • on Apr 7, 2010 10:19 am

contemporary feel? please…

paulb • on Apr 7, 2010 10:59 am

Really inspired choice. For Summit to snag a director of Condon’s pedigree means they are looking to raise the bar considerably with these last two films. Condon is known for getting amazing performances from the unlikeliest of people (see Jennifer Hudson). Huge boon for this franchise I think.

MayDay1618 • on Apr 7, 2010 11:28 am

Ok seriously I love Bill Condon, but are they trying to turn people off. Breaking Dawn is mostly nothing. It’s all internal even more so than the other books. The need to put life into it but adding lots of external action, and pump up the volume, or the movie will suck to the point where people like myself who thinks the movies are lame but watch them out of loyalty to the books won’t even want to see.

bellaB • on May 31, 2010 10:38 am

I want to see Breaking Dawn in 2 pieces. There’s a lot to tell. The inner experience of bella giving birth, becoming what she always wanted , Jacob’s response to Renesmee. That is one thing. It’s internal, but worth it. Some of the best movies are about inner dialogue (made in France, not in US). Bella’s Vampire eyes opening up to see a different world. How exiting!

The other film would be completely about facing up with the evil enemy. That part could be for teenage boys. There’s also the whole Vampire Universe opening up. I would like to see all those Vamps arriving from differents parts of the world: Those Amazons, those Romanians with their history, those half creatures like Renesmee.

So much inner content for 2 films. Trying to mix the stuff is just stupid.

jett • on Apr 7, 2010 11:28 am

Even the fans don’t want two movies yet Summit greed knows no bounds. Hope they don’t regret that decision. The twilight fandom is already moving on. Will they really want to watch the disaster that is Breaking dawn on the big screen two years from now when it’s finally released?

Just say no to RUDE people • on Apr 8, 2010 9:57 am

I’ve read the Twilight Saga and I agree that Breaking Dawn should be done in two movies. There is too much content in there to keep it as one. And its not just tweens and as some of you say “fat, ugly, lonely” women who watch the movies and read the books. Come on people, is it really necessary to trash people??? So what if we are passionate about these books and movies?? It doesn’t give you the right to trash the fans. There is a reason why these movies and books have grossed soo much money. Weren’t you ever taught, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it all…Grow up people, really!

Terry • on Apr 7, 2010 11:47 am

I guess those who think Twilight fans are mostly in the 12-17 age bracket are in the dark about sites like TwilightMoms where about 35,000 women (and a few dads) over 25 or married or a mom are diehard fans of the books and movies. There are plenty of serous fans who hang out on the over 50 thread over there. As a grandmother myself, it is a great story to share with my sons and daughters in law, and my grandkids. Wake up! Twilight fans are not mainly teens!

rob • on Apr 7, 2010 11:50 am

The majority of props for this franchise’s theatrical success should go to whoever pressed the YES button on casting Robert Pattison. A smaller, but substantive dose of props doled out for the decisions to cast Stewart and Lautner.

I read the books (my wife made me!) and they’re all basically simple 30 page stories blown out in to 500 page books. The additional 60 minutes or so of what would have been unbearably lame screen time was made palatable for viewers who enjoyed looking at the stars.

The directors did nice jobs, but they each had to enjoy playing the Phil Jackson role of sitting on a bench while their versions of MJ and Kobe worked their magic.

curious • on Apr 7, 2010 11:53 am

Bill Condon is a class act all the way, and such a phenomenal, versatile artist. This would be a truly exciting route for Summit to take.

rox • on Apr 7, 2010 12:00 pm

hatred for rob much or jealous?bet these are all guys writing the above.besides twilight movies are for teens and some early tweens,so why u so serious?lol

Go to the box on your right —>The one that says “By The Numbers”…then click on VOD sales, DVD sales, DVD Rentals…Do you still think Twilight is a dud??? If you don’t like the Twilight saga, that’s fine because you don’t have to, but there are alot of ppl that do like the it. I’m 35 yrs old, married w/children & African-American and I like the books & the movies. If you don’t like the books or the movies, why both to click on the link & comment? Just a thought….

Jeri D • on Apr 7, 2010 12:29 pm

*that do like it.

Anonymous • on Apr 7, 2010 8:02 pm

I am 43, African-American, a very busy person, with a challenging career and a voracious reader. Twilight is my guilty pleasure. It’s pure escapism from my hectic busy life when I want something light and airy and fun. Twilight is for me, what Call of Duty and God of War are for my boys on PlayStation 3 and Xbox and what Golf is for my husband.
No apologies

Andrea • on Apr 26, 2010 11:19 am

Yes! Someone got it right. Pure escapism indeed. What is so wrong with that?

Janet • on Apr 8, 2010 3:06 am

Bravo, Jeri D. Could not have said it better myself. There are a lot of people out there, speaking of “Not for Real Women and “Pimpy” who really are so frustrated and really have no life that all they do is sit around on the computer all day looking for things to bitch about. I’ll bet if you check their posts they would number in the millions.

Alboone • on Apr 7, 2010 12:30 pm

For the people who still think tweens are the driving force of this franchise really need to get their heads out of their asses. The demographic cuts through all four quadrants. As cheesy as it is people seem to like it. I love the first movie, hated the second, who knows how the 3rd will turn out, but Condon coming on to close it out is a good thing.

However, I think every male geek or nerd who is a fan of Star Wars, or Star Trek, with the fake lightsabers, dressed up as Darth Vader, or Spock (the way Triumph mocked them on Conan, memorably) is THANKFUL for Twilight.

Because finally, someone looks even more childish and immature than they do.

Dustintime • on Apr 7, 2010 12:48 pm

I thought he was booked up with Laura Linney’s new Showtime series…?

Dawn • on Apr 7, 2010 2:27 pm

That premieres this summer so wouldn’t that mean production is going to end in the next few months. If there is a second season, it probably wouldn’t premiere till the summer of 2011 which means that production wouldn’t start again till sometime early next year. He could also probably work it out with Showtime to delay a production for a second season so he could finish Breaking Dawn.

Liza • on Apr 7, 2010 1:16 pm

It is beyond my why so many people feel the need to bash popular movies/books. I am delighted that Summit is looking to tap the talents of a top director. The millions of fans worldwide will benefit. Both the stories and books have been a delight to me – a well educated, 42 year old mother of 2. I enjoy highbrow as much as the next person, but that does not mean I can not enjoy delightful, escapist entertainment. I wish that for the rest of you.

Erma • on Apr 7, 2010 1:45 pm

Everyone I know wants 2 movies for Breaking Dawn. I am 71 and I love the entire Saga. Our “group” has ages 17, 40, 48, 50, 71. We love everything Twilight. I agree with Alboone except I love New Moon but not quite as much as Twilight.

paula • on Apr 7, 2010 1:53 pm

why do movies women like get bashed while action flicks, gory movies, serial killer ones, and sexy ones don’t? Is it because guys like them or are they any better? May have better special effects on the first two but generally have no story (transformers for one, and i even like transformers). Twilight may not be up there with the first Pirates movie or Harry Potter or Avatar, but so what. How many movies are there that are? Twilight obviously makes money and lots of people happy so why bash them? Most of the people I know that like them are over 25, or even over 40, or even over 50 so it’s not just teenagers–and guess who has more money.

However, it fosters unrealistic expectations about men that generate a healthy dose of male contempt. Contempt fairly earned, I think for both the material AND the audience. Think of the bimbo-licious slasher films, or raunchy male sex comedies, or anything with the human blow-up doll Pamela Anderson, for what it comes across to men.

There’s no reason why a Twilight like film (somewhat porn for women) can’t be done well, but mostly they are done poorly. I.E. sloppy story structure, character development non-existent, no real adversary for the girl, etc.

By contrast a good action movie is a lot harder to write and act. Most of the female-movies requires a pretty lead to be … pretty. The action movie requires a complex plot that demands increasing heroism from the lead, masculine behavior that does not descend to cruelty or bullying, toughness, and so on. Which makes the acting better, generally. There’s always a great villain.

Compare Twilight with Taken, or 300, or Batman Begins, or Iron Man. All the latter have more complex leads, who go through a more complex arc, face more complex challenges, and face a higher challenge in bringing the audience along without a big romance or such.

Personally I find it a pity that there is no unified, men-women movies as in Hollywood’s golden age, but that is just how it is.

mookie • on Apr 7, 2010 10:06 pm

Easy Jeb Stuart….

Look, there was a time, probably before the 80’s and 90’s, when there were general audience films, action films, whatever, that everyone went to and liked. That audience has been splintered by over-educated mooks in the studio marketing departments.

paula • on Apr 8, 2010 5:46 am

I really do like your comments. Helps me see how some view the movies–as exploitation of a pretty guy, which I guess it is. I would rather watch something of Jane Austen but they’re not always available. I think though that the Twilight situation is more a case of a really well-liked book (which may be shallow, I’ll grant, but sure fun to read) being made into a movie and inspired casting choices. What girl doesn’t like the handsomest guy liking you? It never happens in reality if you’re plain and I’m not influenced by a book saying it is possible. I guess we can’t depend on movies defining life for us in any case–it’s just dreams in many cases. There are significant movies with lessons and deeper thoughts but then there is the fluff. I just wish it wouldn’t be bashed.

Shell • on Apr 8, 2010 3:30 pm

I’m no Twilight fan, but some of your points just hightlight the problem.

“An honest answer is that men/boys have little patience for female indulgences.”

But women, of course, are expected to have plenty of patience for male indulgences.

“However, it fosters unrealistic expectations about men that generate a healthy dose of male contempt.”

And how is this different than movies that foster unrealistic expectations about women?

“By contrast a good action movie is a lot harder to write and act. Most of the female-movies requires a pretty lead to be … pretty.”

Yes, that Transformers was definitely a beacon of great acting and writing, same with Avatar. I could go on with examples of the hyprocisy of that last statement, but I think I’ll stop here, or at least until I quit LOL!

magenta • on Apr 7, 2010 1:54 pm

If the execs had a clue then they would realize a female director is needed to truly capture what attracts the females of all ages, like the book does.

dvelopment • on Apr 8, 2010 12:45 am

Um, Catherine Hardwicke is a woman, but she’s also batshit crazy, hence her not being asked back. Which female director would you advocate who can handle the action as well as the romance? Hate to break it to you, Kathryn Bigelow aint doing it. Lexi Alexander can’t direct shit (i cite PUNISHER:WAR ZONE). Yeah, that’s all that come to mind.

howling wolf • on Apr 8, 2010 8:46 pm

Bravo, my point exactly.

Tourist • on Apr 7, 2010 2:00 pm

People need to remember that Condon rookied in writing stuff like “Strange Invaders” and “Dead Kids” and then directed the quite eerie “Sister, Sister” and “Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh.” If anyone’s going to get a good movie out of this, it’ll be Condon.

Kate Whitehead • on Apr 7, 2010 2:41 pm

I don’t see why so many of you have decided to ‘bash’ Twilight, if you dont like it fair enough, its not to everyone’s taste. However it is not fair to group all twilight fans in the teen population I am a 26 year old mum-to-be and find these books/films brilliant. Twilight has not only bought me relaxtion time during a stressful pregnancy but it has made people talk and befriend others so it is not just about the books or films it is about a community that has sprung from them. And bashing them insults a lot of people, there is no need.

Allison • on Apr 8, 2010 1:41 pm

Well said.

Sally • on Apr 7, 2010 3:20 pm

With that plot being involved with this movie is basically career suicide.

M • on Apr 7, 2010 3:21 pm

Please don’t make it sound as if Summit had many options. He has emerged the #1 choice? Plz, he probably is the only one interested.

Coppon and Van Sant have other things to do.

dvelopment • on Apr 7, 2010 7:48 pm

since when is Bill Condon settling? I’ll take Condon over Coppola or Van Sant anyday. Coppola is too indie and Van Sant is too hit or miss.

cookie • on Apr 7, 2010 3:25 pm

Why feel sorry for that guy? I don’t think that he is forced to direct breaking dawn.

cst • on Apr 7, 2010 4:16 pm

Ah, and to think Condon once made ACTUAL horror films… what a comedown.